DT Swiss is not claiming to have reinvented the wheel, but from the ground, the new HYBRID range has been developed for a sporty E-MTB application and wants to set a new reference for ambitious riders. This sort of bold statement from an otherwise very modest Swiss made us rather curious. That’s why we didn’t sit around for much longer and made our way to the DT Swiss headquarters in Biel, to find out what all the fuss is about “Mission HYBRID“.
DT Swiss Mission HYBRID
In order to get to the beginning of the story behind the HYBRID–wheels, we have to rewind back by two years, when DT Chief Marketing Officer Daniel Berger discovered the E-MTB for himself. The 52-year-old immediately caught the E-MTB-virus and quickly realised the great potential of these bikes. At first, his colleagues made fun out of him, but after some time everyone started realising one thing: E-MTBs are the next big trend in the mountain biking industry, and DT Swiss wanted to be part of it since the beginning.
When it comes to E-MTB, wheel developers face two big challenges. On one hand, electric support increases stress on components, materials suffer from the higher torque and heavier weight of the bike. On the other, longer distances are generally covered with E-MTBs. Higher, faster, further – and all of a sudden riding performances doubles, the E-MTB is more fun to ride and gets used more often than our traditional, dusty mountain bikes. As a final result workload on parts increases significantly, and limited durability is an immediate, obvious consequence.
What makes the DT Swiss HYBRID-wheelset so special?
Traditional DT’s mountain bike wheels are already suitable for an E-MTB use, but the Swiss manufacturer wanted to offer a wheelset which could offer not only a reliable product but also one that could maintain its reliability over many years. The result of this effort is a completely new line of wheels, in its development, nothing has remained untouched. Performance and durability in the HYBRID-wheels are supposed to satisfy requirements of the most ambitious E-MTB riders, making this series become a reference product in the matter of wheels.
The hubs on DT Swiss HYBRID-wheels
Let’s start with the heart and soul of the wheel: the new HYBRID-hubs are based on the classic DT 240 hubs but have been comprehensively adapted and beefed up to withstand the higher stress of an E-MTB application. The hub shell features thicker sidewalls, a bigger housing, reinforced axles and wider spoke holes. Larger bearings, new 24-tooth star ratchets and a steel freehub complete the package. With these modifications, the HYBRID-hubs can withstand a torque of up to 500 Nm, 25 % more than the classic hubs.
The spokes on the DT Swiss HYBRID-wheels.
The hubs offer a solid basis for the 28 straight-pull spokes, which have also been specifically developed for the HYBRID-Series. Reinforced spoke heads measure a diameter of 2,34 mm, the thickness of the spoke’s main body reduces to 1,8 mm and widens up to 2,0 mm on the other end. DTs Pro Lock Squorx Pro Head spoke nipples are supposedly the perfect final touch.
HYBRID-series rims are based on the EX-series rims, reinforced in the center for this specific application. Not only does this improve the spoke’s pull out force by 20%, but it also increases the maximum system weight from 120 kg to 150 kg. Engineers at DT test their products for long-term durability on their self-developed test benches. Here HYBRID-rims last more than twice as much than the classic MTB-product. High-end rims are welded, the more economical versions pinned.
The HYBRID-range at a glance.
Exactly like the classic MTB-wheel series, the HYBRID-line comes in different price and quality categories. All wheels come exclusively in the Boost-Standard with 15/110 mm on the front and 12/148 mm for the rear. All HYBRID-wheels mount a Shimano-freewheel. However, an XD freehub is included and can be replaced without the need of tools. Tubeless-tape and tubeless valves are also included in the box.
HXC 1200 SPLINE
The top end is represented by the HXC 1200 SPLINE carbon wheelset, which is exclusively available in a 30 mm internal rim width option. Weight stands at 1,678 g for the 27.5″ and 1,786 g for a set of 29″ rims. The HXC is the only HYBRID-Series model with a maximum system weight limited to 120 kg, but with a price tag of € 2,248, these are likely to be a realistic option only for a very restricted group of buyers.
HX 1501 SPLINE ONE
The HX 1501 SPLINE ONE is the high-end model of the aluminium range, and definitely the most exciting package of the whole line. As far as weight goes, it’s 200 g heavier than the classic EX 1501 SPLINE ONE-wheel. All of the HYBRID aluminium wheels are available in 27.5″ with optional 25 mm, 30 mm and 35 mm rim width, and in 29″ with 30 mm rim width. As explained above, the hubs are based on the DT 240 hub classic, and the rims are welded. We were able to test a set of HX 1501 before their official release, watch this space for the full review.
HX 1501 SPLINE ONE | 25 mm | 30 mm | 35 mm |
---|---|---|---|
Weight 27.5″ | 1,898 g | 1,978 g | 2,088 g |
Weight 29″ | N/A | 2,081 g | N/A |
Price | OEM only | € 1,078 | € 1,118 |
H 1700 SPLINE
The H 1700 is the mid-range option in the HYBRID-series and should be found on many complete bikes in a near future. The base for the hubs are the DT 350s classic and include a 24T star ratchet, like the top-end version. As opposed to the HX 1501 SPLINE ONE rims, these are sleeved and not welded. That makes the H 1700 heavier by a little more than 100 g than the HX.
H 1700 SPLINE | 25 mm | 30 mm | 35 mm |
---|---|---|---|
Weight 27.5″ | 2,000 g | 2,090 g | 2,200 g |
Weight 29″ | N/A | 2,197 g | N/A |
Price | OEM only | € 698 | € 718 |
H 1900 SPLINE
The 2021 H 1900 SPLINE was the starter version in the HYBRID-line. For this model, the basis for the hub was the DT 370, which uses standard pawls instead of ratchet stars. The other parts were the same as on an H 1700 SPLINE with only a difference of a few grams. Those wheels were an incredible bargain! But the 2022/23 wheels use the same ratchet technology as top spec DT wheels. These are now a serious mid range wheel at an incredible price!
H 1900 SPLINE | 25 mm | 30 mm | 35 mm |
---|---|---|---|
Weight 27.5″ | 2,003 g | 2,093 g | 2,203 g |
Weight 29″ | N/A | 2,198 g | N/A |
Price | OEM only | When motor assistance and leg power meet, the range of terrain a bike can conquer grows almost exponentially. The H 1900 SPLINE is designed for this. The hub enables full power transmission to the ground with reinforced hybrid spokes laced to a resistant aluminium rim, available in two inner widths. | € 408 |